Jon Wright
BBC Radio Suffolk

The controversial Hatchfield Farm housing development in Newmarket can now go ahead, after the High Court quashed a government decision to refuse planning permission. 

The plans for 400 new homes by Lord Derby have been the subject of appeals and legal battles and have been scaled down since the original plan to build 1,200 homes on the site off Fordham Road.

A public inquiry and a report by a government planning inspector both recommended the housing go ahead.

But last year, the newly appointed Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, refused consent. 

That decision was jointly challenged at the High Court by the Earl of Derby and Moulton Parish Council. 

This afternoon, Mr Justice Gilbart said the Secretary of State "performed a complete and unexplained volte face in his assessment of the highways impacts" and failed to apply his own National Planning Policy Framework, concluding the decision should be quashed.

Lord Derby, whose ancestor founded Britain's richest racing event, has scored a High Court victory over the racing industry and boosted his plans to build 400 new homes on his farmland near Newmarket.

More to follow...

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

Relatives of a motorcyclist who died as the result of a collision with a car in Nacton in 2016 say they're satisfied with the sentence given to the car driver, who had admitted causing death by careless driving.

Duane Cook, 43, from Ipswich, was killed when Professor Edwin Candy pulled out in front of him on Felixstowe Road.

Mr Cook's fiancee, father and daughter told me they hadn't wanted Candy, 73, to go to prison.

They said the effect the crash was having on him emotionally was a punishment in itself. 

What they had wanted was for him to be banned for driving, and that happened.

Alongside a six-month suspended prison sentence, Candy was banned for driving for four years.

If he decides at the end of that time that he wants to drive again, he'll have to have a re-test. 

A golf course that was closed for 24 hours following a major gorse fire which broke out on Sunday afternoon is open again.

Image source, Andrew Court

A message on the website for Southwold Golf Club, external says: "Very little damage appears to have been caused to the fairways and tee boxes. 

"Some signage has been lost but nothing that is not replaceable. 

"The Clubhouse, pro shop and green keeper’s sheds were untouched by the fire but were affected by smoke.

"There may be some disruption to the 1st and 10th fairways while the fire services remain on the scene damping down." 

The search work at the Milton landfill site will continue for at least a further week in the hunt for missing RAF Honington serviceman Corrie McKeague, say police.

Throughout the search, officers have found material that has indicated they are in the right area, finding waste that was clearly identifiable as being from Bury St Edmunds, and within the right time frame. 

Mr Mckeague was last seen in the town on 24 September.

The work being completed is continually being reviewed, with daily updates being passed to senior officers overseeing the investigation. 

In view of the dates on items still being found and advice from officers on the ground and the site team, the search will continue into week 11.

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

The developer behind the redevelopment of Woodbridge's waterfront says the Deben Wharf building "has to be one of the best sites in East Anglia".

The building is part of the £13m Whisstocks project which includes a community boatshed and heritage space to house a replica Saxon ship.  

Julian Wells, from FW Properties, described the development as a "proper town centre, mixed-use regeneration project".

He added: "This is going to be a pretty lively place to live and to come and visit.

"To be standing here now and looking down that view, whether it be summertime, whether it be wintertime, it's just stunning."

We've had one of the driest Aprils on record.... with under half the expected amount of rainfall for the month.

It follows one of the driest winters for 20 years... BBC East weather forecaster Dan Holley's tweet shows how it compares to average years.

Plans to create a giant nature reserve at Carlton Marshes will be featured on BBC One's Country File on Sunday night.

Image source, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Suffolk Wildlife Trust say a film crew, fronted by presenter Matt Baker, visited the area last month to learn more about the campaign, and to meet some of the "Dog Ambassadors" to hear how the Trust encourages responsible dog-walking in the wildlife space.

Bardwell Windmill, external, in Bardwell near Bury St Edmunds, will also feature in the programme, as part of celebrations for National Mills Weekend.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a two-vehicle collision on the A1088 at Ixworth at about 06:20 yesterday, which resulted in two men in their 20s being taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Anyone who saw either of the vehicles - a blue Nissan Navara and a grey BMW 320 - before the collision, or witnesses the actual crash, is asked to contact the police.

The latest condition update we have on the two men, who are from the Bury St Edmunds area, is that one is in a serious but stable condition, and the second man suffered life-threatening injuries.

A topping out ceremony has taken place at the Deben Wharf building on the waterfront at Woodbridge.

Image source, FW Properties

The building will comprise 15 apartments overlooking the River Deben, with the ground floor being used as retail space. 

Today's ceremony marks the construction of the tallest point of the building. 

Image source, FW Properties

It's part of the £13m Whisstocks development which started in March last year and should be completed by the end of the summer. 

The project includes a two-level commercial building.

In addition there's a community boatshed to be provided to Woodbridge Town Council to house a replica Anglo-Saxon ship and a heritage building for Woodbridge Museum.

Image source, FW Properties

For those of us in cars, it's always slightly disappointing that you can't see much of the view from the Orwell Bridge over the parapets.

One passenger, who was on the top deck of a bus, has kindly sent us this video of the view towards Woolverstone, Freston and Wherstead.

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

A Felixstowe man, who admitted causing death by careless driving following a crash last year, has avoided being sent to jail by magistrates in Ipswich. 

Professor Edwin Candy, 73, from Beach Road East, who had pleaded guilty to the offence at a previous hearing, has been given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for four years, after which he will need to retake his test.

Duane Cook, 43, of Kings Way in Ipswich, died after a collision between his motorcycle and Candy's Honda car on Felixstowe Road in Nacton on the afternoon of 29 March 2016. 

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

If you were with us yesterday, you may remember I asked for help in identifying this very pretty flower I spotted during a walk at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's reserve of Bradfield Woods, external, near Bury St Edmunds. 

I'd like to say a big thanks to Sian New, who's emailed us saying: "Re your flower, I believe it is phacelia tanacetifolia, external. 

"A plant grown as green manure by farmers. 

"It is a very pretty flower!

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

A Felixstowe man who admitted causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving, following a collision in Nacton in March 2016, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Professor Edwin Candy, 73, appeared before magistrates in Ipswich this morning.

More details to follow.

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Witches have signed Nathan Greaves, external to replace the injured Danyon Hume.

The 19-year-old will make his debut on Thursday, when the Witches race Scunthorpe at Foxhall Stadium (pictured) in Speedway's Championship League. 

Greaves also rides for Premiership side Wolverhampton Wolves and made it through to last month's British Under-21 Final where he finished fourth.

"I couldn't be happier to have Nathan on board," Witches Director Chris Louis said. 

"We look forward to giving him as much help as possible to help further his career." 

Ipswich Town has revealed its new home kit, and judging by these comments from TWTD, external, the independent Ipswich Town website, the overall reaction seems to be positive:

• Simonds92 writes: "Massive fan of this"
• Hampstead_Blue comments: "Now that is a promotion winning shirt - close to the awesome 1978 kit"
• Tractorboy1985 says: "Like it a lot but will never purchase one whilst that mans name is splashed all over the front"
• Riley26 writes: "Stick a proper white collar on that and you're onto a winner" 
• Vancouver_Blue: "Way better than previous years"
• Sixto6 comments: "Just need some quality players to wear it" 

Image source, Laura Macleod/ITFC.co.uk

The reaction on our Facebook page, external is a bit more varied:

• Gillie Hoffaker, external: "Waste of dosh"
• Mandy Garner, external: "I like the kit and love the goalkeeper kit but just can't buy it with the sponsor name on front of it"
• Kevin Barnes, external: "Pointless if we stay in the championship"
• Leslie Walkden, external: "New kit looks fine how about a new team?"

What do you think? You can join in the conversation, by clicking on the "Get involved" link at the top of this page. 

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

So after four seasons with Ipswich Town, Christophe Berra is moving on and it will be a big surprise should the 32-year-old not join a club back in his native Scotland.

This season has been something of a struggle for the defender, who has not been able to recapture the form of recent campaigns, during which he helped the Blues to ninth, sixth and seventh place finishes in the Championship.

Berra particularly found things tough when playing on the left of a back three, but make no mistake, if he is played to his strengths in a team north of the border, he will be an asset. 

He is, in Mick McCarthy's words "a top defender who has been a top servant" and Berra's services to Ipswich will definitely take some matching as far as the club's recent history goes.

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

A Felixstowe man is due before magistrates in Ipswich today, accused of causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving in March 2016.

Professor Edwin Candy, 73, from Beach Road East, was charged following a collision on the Felixstowe Road in Nacton involving his car and a motorbike.

Motorcyclist Duane Cook, from King's Way in Ipswich, died at the scene.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Anglian Water says water levels in the east of England are "good" and there will be no need for a hosepipe ban come summer, despite the recent record dry weather.

October to March has been the driest in the UK for more than 20 years and there's been a particular lack of rain in southern and eastern counties of England.

Emma Staples from the company said "there will not be any restrictions" on usage this year.

"Our reservoirs are on average 94% full. That's absolutely ample for this time of year," she said.